Australian student who ran tours in North Korea arrested after criticising the country’s regime

Student, 29, believed to be the only Australian living in North Korea is arrested after tweeting about the country’s secretive regime and running ‘tours’ for visitors

An Australian exchange student who ran tours in North Korea has gone missing

Alek Sigley was arrested after series of tweets about life in repressive country

By Kelsey Wilkie For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:58 BST, 26 June 2019 | Updated: 00:12 BST, 27 June 2019

An Australian exchange student who ran tours in North Korea has gone missing after posting about the country’s secretive regime.

Alek Sigley, 29, was arrested after a series of tweets about his life in the repressive country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed Australian man has reportedly been detained in North Korea.

Alek Sigley (pictured), 29, was arrested after a series of tweets about his life in the repressive country

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed Australian man has reportedly been detained in North Korea – it is urgently seeking clarification

‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance, in accordance with the Consular Services Charter, to the family of an Australian man who has been reported as being detained in North Korea.

‘The Department is urgently seeking clarification.’

Mr Sigley’s last social media post on June 24 was about the Ryugyong Hotel, which remained famously unfinished after construction was halted in 1992 as North Korea entered an economic crisis.

‘New signage above the main entrance to the Ryugyong Hotel bearing its name and logo. A sign that it will soon be open for business?’ Mr Sigley’s post read.

Sigley, who is believed to be the only Australian living in North Korea, has been studying Korean Literature at Kim Il Sung University as well as running tours.

More to come

Mr Sigley’s last social media post (pictured) on June 24 was about the Ryugyong Hotel, which remained famously unfinished after construction was halted in 1992 as North Korea entered an economic crisis